Where to stay to visit the Perigord Noir
The Perigord Noir is best explored from a hub: you pick a base and radiate out from it. The real question is therefore less about the type of accommodation than its location, because position determines how much of your stay you spend driving.
This page explains why Sarlat stands out as a base camp, then introduces the two rentals we offer in the old town.
Why choose Sarlat as your base
Four concrete reasons, whatever accommodation you end up choosing.
The most central position
Sarlat sits between the two major valleys: the Dordogne to the south, the Vezere to the north-west. From anywhere else, one of the two becomes markedly longer to reach.
A town that lives in the evening
It is the only place in the area where you can have dinner, take a walk and get home without touching the car. The valley villages, magnificent by day, are very quiet once the visitors leave.
Everyday life on the doorstep
Shops, market, restaurants and services are all in the centre. Over a stay of several days, that saves a car trip almost every day.
A destination in its own right
Sarlat's historic centre is worth a full day on its own. Sleeping there turns your evenings and early mornings into discovery time rather than commuting.
Town centre or outskirts?
Sarlat's historic centre is pedestrianised across most of its area. That is exactly what makes it charming, and it is also what makes parking a central question when choosing where to stay. Sleeping on the outskirts means taking the car for every trip into town, including in the evening; sleeping in the centre with no parking solution complicates arrivals and shopping runs.
The most comfortable combination is therefore a rental inside the old town with free parking nearby: you park once on arrival, and the car only comes out again for excursions.
Our two rentals in the old town
Two studios right in the historic centre of Sarlat-la-Caneda, with free parking nearby.
Le Mystère Sarladais
Old town, Sarlat-la-Canéda
In the very heart of Sarlat-la-Canéda, this charming studio puts you steps from the medieval lanes and the Place de la Liberté. Free parking nearby makes your arrival easy, so you can freely explore the treasures of the Périgord Noir.
- Wifi
- Equipped kitchen
- Free parking
- Town centre
Le Secret Sarladais
Old town, Sarlat-la-Canéda
Nestled in the heart of Sarlat-la-Canéda, this comfortable studio welcomes you just steps from the historic centre. With its free parking, it makes an ideal base for exploring the castles and villages of the Périgord Noir.
- Wifi
- Equipped kitchen
- Free parking
- Town centre
How many nights to book
2 nights
Enough to see Sarlat properly and make one foray into the Dordogne valley. A weekend format.
3 to 4 nights
The most common format: the town, the Dordogne castles and villages, and a day of prehistory in the Vezere valley.
A week
The luxury of not rushing anything: the western villages, gardens, river days and unplanned mornings.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to sleep in Sarlat or in a valley village?
Sarlat is more central between the two valleys and stays lively in the evening, whereas the villages empty once the day visitors leave. For a touring stay with several excursions, the town saves time every day.
Is Sarlat a good base for the Perigord Noir?
Yes: it is the region's main town and it sits between the Dordogne and Vezere valleys, the two areas holding most of the sites worth visiting.
Do you need parking in Sarlat?
It is strongly advisable, since most of the old town is pedestrianised and you will need the car for excursions. Both of our studios have free parking nearby.
Read next
- Visiting the Perigord NoirThe Dordogne valley, the Vezere valley, listed villages, castles and painted caves: how to explore the Perigord Noir and where to set up your base.
- Three days in the Perigord Noir from SarlatA three-day Perigord Noir itinerary from Sarlat: the old town, the Dordogne valley and its castles, then prehistory in the Vezere valley.
- Five days in the Perigord NoirA five-day Perigord Noir itinerary from Sarlat: the town, Dordogne castles, Vezere prehistory, listed villages and gardens, without changing accommodation.
- Visiting Sarlat, in the heart of the Perigord NoirWhat to see in Sarlat-la-Caneda: the cathedral, rue des Consuls, place des Oies, Manoir de Gisson. A guide to exploring the old town on foot.
Content updated on